Drilling rate recorder



Nov. 30, 1965 Filed Jan. 2, 1962 R. G. PEARSON DRILLING RATE RECORDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 30, 1965 R- cs. PEARSON DRILLING RATE RECORDER M a m m m N e T 0 v M m m r VP T w m h Q mm W w 7 4. 2

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DRILLING RATE RECORDER Filed Jan. 2, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 6. 1 50250 Array/vs Nov. 30, 1965 R. G. PEARSON DRILLING RATE RECORDER 4 Sheets$heet 4 Filed Jan. 2, 1962 R W W W.

United States Patent 3,220,251 DRILLING RATE RECORDER Robert G. Pearson, 2201 Churchill Way, Oklahoma City, Okla. Filed Jan. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 163,829 12 Claims. (Cl. 73-1515) The present invention relates to the drilling of bore holes, and more particularly to apparatus for recording the rate of penetration of a drill bit in the formation.

Drilling rate recorders heretofore used in connection with the drilling of bore holes provide rate of penetration logs which are difficult to correlate with other logs, such as resistivity, frequency modulation and radioactive logs. Rate of penetration logs based on a time-driven chart cannot be compared with another log based on a depth-driven chart without first undertaking the tedious and time-consuming task of converting the former into the same basis as the latter.

Some rate of penetration recorders are complicated mechanisms embodying relatively delicate clock works, which are difiicult to maintain in proper condition, especially in the environment in which they are used, namely, at the drilling rig where they are subjected to vibrations, shock loads, and other adverse factors.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved drilling rate recorder capable of continuously registering the rate of drilling in relation to the depth at which the drilling is occurring.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drilling rate recorder embodying strong, sturdy mechanisms, which are less susceptible to adverse effects because of their being subjected to vibrations, shocks, and other external forces encountered at the drilling site.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. It willnow be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a drilling rig to which a drilling rate recorder has been operatively connected;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a drilling rate recorder embodying the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along the line 4-4 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic system of the recorder apparatus.

In FIGURE 1, a typical rotary drilling rig is illustrated, which includes a derrick 12 having a crown block 14 at its upper portion from which traveling blocks 11 and a hook 16 are suspended by the usual lines 18. The I hook carries a swivel 20a, the lower portion of which is connected to the upper kelly portion 20 of a string of drill pipe 19 extending through a rotary table 22 and into the well bore 13. A drill bit 21 is mounted on the lower end of the drill pipe 19 for drilling the bore hole. Circulating fluid for removing the cuttings and for cleaning and cooling the drill bit passes from a suitable source through the flexible drilling mud hose 24 connected to the swivel 20a. The drill string 19 is rotated by the table 22 through use of a suitable power mechanism 23, the square or noncircular kelly 20 sliding through a companion bore in the table as drilling proceeds, the drill string being lowered by means of the crown block 14, cables 18, traveling block 11, and hook mechanism 16 in a known manner, to maintain the desired drilling weight on the drill bit 21.

A rate of penetration or drilling rate recorder 26 for obtaining a substantially continuous record of the rate at which the drill bit is penetrating the formation is mounted in or adjacent to the derrick 10. The recording mechanism is enclosed within a suitable support or housing 27 in which a shaft 30 is rotatably mounted in suitable spaced bearings 29. A flexible cable or line 32 passes from a retracting spring-operated winding drum 34 under a lower recorder operating sheave 28 and then to and over an upper sheave 36 suitably supported on the derrick. From this upper sheave 36, the line 32 is fixed to the upper portion of the hose 24 by a clamp 37, or the like, adjacent to the swivel 20a. With this arrangement, as the drill bit 21 drills the hole 13, the drilling string 19 and its kelly 20 move in a downward direction, the swivel 20a and upper portion of the mud hose 24 moving downwardly with it. Such downward movement results in an unwinding of the cable or line 32 from the spring-operated drum 34 and a rotation of the sheave or pulley 28 within the recorder housing 27, as the line 32 moves upwardly between the lower and upper sheaves 28, 36. Accordingly, the recorder sheave 28 is caused to turn or rotate as drilling progresses. Such rotation is imparted to the shaft 30 when a clutch is engaged.

The sheave 28 is freely rotatable on the shaft 30. However, a clutch member is splined to the shaft 30, as by means of a pin 172 fixed to the shaft extending into a longitudinal slot 174 in the driven clutch member 170. The latter member is normally urged into frictional clutching engagement with the face of the pulley 28 by a spring 178 bearing against the driven clutch member 170 and also against the collar 176 fixed to the shaft 30. The clutch may be disengaged whenever desired by suitable movement of a clutch operating lever pivotally mounted on the housing or support 27 and extending outwardly therefrom. As described hereinbelow, the clutch may be disengaged hydraulically whenever fluid pressure is allowed to enter a cylinder 188, to force a piston 186 therein outwardly against the clutch disengaging lever 180. When the fluid pressure is released, a spring (not shown) in the cylinder retracts the piston 186, allowing the spring 178 encircling the shaft 30 to reengage the clutch 170, 28.

The motion of the shaft 30 is transmitted to a recording drum 62 adapted to carry a tape or chart 63 on which a graph is to be drawn. The drum 62 is suitably keyed to a shaft 58 rotatably mounted in spaced bearing supports 60. The motion of the shaft 30 is transmitted to the drum 62 through suitable speed reducing gearing. As disclosed, a pinion 38 is secured to the end of the shaft 30, meshing with a gear 40 mounted on and secured to a second shaft 42 suitably supported in spaced bearings 44 fixed to the housing 27 of the mechanism. Also aflixed to the shaft 42 is a bevel pinion 46 meshing with a beveled gear 48 mounted on a shaft 50 rotatably supported in bearings 52 carried by the housing 27. This shaft 50 has a worm 54 fixed thereto meshing with a worm wheel 56 attached to the shaft 58 to which the drum 62 is keyed. The drum is urged against a collar 64 fixed on the shaft 58 by a spring 66 engaging the opposite end of the drum and the worm wheel 56. With the arrangement described, the drum 62 will be rotated or moved in direct proportion to the movement of the pulley 28 when the clutch member 170 is engaged with the latter, or in direct proportion to the movement of the drill string 19 and the drill bit 21 as the latter cuts into the bottom of the bore hole 13. A suitable roll of chart paper or recording tape 63 may be mounted on the drum 62 to move therewith, such paper or tape being provided in a sufficient quantity to be assured that the rate of penetration can be continuously recorded for the entire depth of the Well bore being drilled.

A collar 68 is suitably secured to the shaft 30, an arm 70 being attached to this collar and extending outwardly into engagement with a second arm 72 secured to a shaft 76, which is rotatably journaled in a bearing support bracket 78 attached to the housing. The arms 70 and 72 are so positioned that with each revolution of the shaft 30, the arm 70 moves into engagement with the arm 72 and produces a limited rotation of the shaft 76. A coil or toggle spring 80 is secured to the housing 27 at one end directly below the axis of the shaft 76, and also to an arm 82 rigidly attached to the shaft 76 and extending radially therefrom. With this arrangement, as the shaft 30 rotates in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 4, the arm 70 moves into engagement with the arm 72 and rotates the shaft 76 in a counterclockwise direction, also swinging the arm 82 in a counterclockwise direction against the resistance exerted by the spring 80. As the arm 82 passes through the vertical position, the spring 80 snaps it in a counterclockwise direction to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 4.

A plural outlet two position valve 86, including a rotational valve element 87, is mounted on the bracket 78. Valve actuating members 83, 84 are connected to the valve element 87 to rotate it to either the solid or dotted line position shown in FIG. 5. A high pressure inlet line 85 is connected to the valve 86 and separate outlet lines 94, 104 extend from this valve. The valve actuating members 83 and 84 are adapted to be operated by a bracket 89 mounted on the shaft 76 and having push members 91 and 93 thereon adapted to engage the actuating members 83 and 84, respectively. When the arm 82 is in the dotted line position shown in FIG. 4, the push member 93 depresses actuating member 84, causing the valve element 87 to rotate to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 5, placing the inlet line 85 in communication with the fluid outlet line 94, this outlet line extending to the head end of a push cylinder 96. The line 104 is then connected to atmosphere. When the arm 82 is in the dotted line position, it lies in the path of a piston rod 100 adapted to move outwardly of its associated cylinder 98, to which pressure is admitted at a proper point in the cycle of operation of the apparatus, causing the piston rod 100 to push arm 82 in a clockwise direction (FIG. 4) or toward the full line position, the tension of the spring 80 snapping the arm 82 back to the full line position illustrated. When in this position, the shaft 76 has been rotated to engage the push member 91 with the valve actuating member 83, causing the valve element 87 to be rotated to the solid line position illustrated in FIG. 5, placing the high pressure line 85 in communication with the line 104 connected to the opposite end of the push cylinder 96, and exhausting the line 94 to atmosphere.

When the valve element 87 is in the dotted line position shown in FIG. 5, fluid pressure, such as compressed air, or hydraulic fluid under pressure, derived from a suitable source and flowing through the inlet line 85 passes through the line 94 to the cylinder 96, moving a piston rod 106 in this cylinder outwardly thereof, or to the left, as seen in the drawings. When the valve element 87 has been snapped to its solid line position, the fluid pressure passes to the rod end of the push cylinder 96 effecting retraction of the piston rod 106 into the cylinder.

A push member 108 is secured to the end of the piston rod 106, this push member being engageable with a spring biased valve actuating pin 110 extending outwardly from a valve housing 112. This valve housing 112 is mounted on a carriage 113 slidable on a plurality of rails 114 extending parallel to the axis of the recording drum 62. The rails are rigidly attached to the housing 27 by means of supporting brackets 116. The valve housing 112 contains a rotatable valve element 118 disposed normally in the solid position illustrated in FIG. 5. However, when the pin 110 is depressed with suflicient force by the push member 108, the valve element 118 is rotated to the dotted line position (FIG. 5), returning to the solid line position after the force on the pin 110 is released.

In the operation of the apparatus so far described, each rotation of the shaft 30 causes the valve element 87 to rotate to its dotted line position shown in FIG. 5, in which high pressure fluid, such as compressed air, is ad mitted to the head end of the cylinder 96, effecting outward movement of the piston rod 106 to a dotted line position (FIG. 5). The push member 108 engages the pin 110, forcing the valve housing 112 and the carriage 113 along the guide rails 114, until the valve housing 112 and carriage 113 are stopped by abutting against a time positioned stop member 120, described hereinbelow. Thereafter, further force on the pin 110 by the push member 108 presses the pin inwardly of the housing 112, effecting rotation of the valve element 118 to the dotted line position illustrated in FIG. 5. Pressurized air can then enter the valve housing 112 through an air inlet line 122, discharging from the valve housing 112 through an air outlet line 124 running to the cylinder 98. The air pressure in the cylinder 98 shifts the rod in the cylinder into engagement with the arm 82, rocking the shaft 72 and the bracket 89 to the full line position disclosed in FIG. 4, and causing the rotatable valve element 87 to be shifted to its full line position disclosed in FIG. 5. When in such position, pressurized air can flow from the high pressure line 85 to the line 104 leading to the rod end of the cylinder 96, retracting the piston rod 106. When this rod retracts, it releases the pressure exerted on the pin permitting the spring biased valve element 118 to rotate back to the full line position disclosed in FIG. 5, exhausting the air in the cylinder 98 to atmosphere and allowing a spring (not shown) to retract the piston 100 in the cylinder.

The time positioned stop 120, which determines the extent to which the piston rod 106 can push the carriage 113, is secured to the end of a piston rod 126 slidably mounted in a timing cylinder 128. The advance and retraction of the piston rod 126 with respect to the cylinder is determined by a two position valve 134 (FIGS. 2 and 5). The two position valve 134 includes a spring biased valve element 136, which can be disposed in the solid line position shown in FIG. 5, allowing air from a pressure inlet line 138 to pass through the line 132 to the piston 128 and effect a retraction of the rod 126 in its cylinder. When the valve element 136 has been rotated to the dotted line position, the line 132 is connected to atmosphere and air from the inlet line 138 can pass through the line and through a control valve 140 and a flow control valve or pressure regulator 142 to the head end of the timing cylinder 128, causing the piston rod 126 to be advanced out of the cylinder at a slow constant speed. As shown, the piston rod 126 moves in a direction parallel to the axis of the recording drum 62 and perpendicular to the direction the recording chart 63 is being advanced by rotation of the recording drum 62.

A valve actuating cam arm 144 is secured to and extends outwardly from the valve 134, being secured to the rotatable valve element 136. A spring 146 connected to the cam arm 144 and the housing 27 normally biases the cam arm 144 and the valve element 136 to the dotted line position disclosed in FIG. 5, in which the fluid pressure is allowed to feed into the head end of the timing cylinder 128. A lower tripper 148 is pivotally secured to the push member 108, carrying a pin which acts as a stop to limit pivotal movement of the tripper 148 in a clockwise direction (FIGS. 3 and 5) under the action of a spring 152. The tripper 148 carries a roller 149 adapted to engage the cam arm 144 in order to rotate the latter and the valve element 136 when the rod 106 is being retracted within its cylinder 96. When moving in such direction, the tripper device 148 cannot move with respect to the push member 108 because of the engagement of the pin 150 therewith. However, when the piston rod 106 advances from its cylinder, the roller tripper 148 engages the cam arm 144, which lies in its path, the tripper 148 merely swinging upwardly against the force of the spring 152 and riding past the cam arm 144 without actuating the latter.

After the piston rod 106 has moved to its advanced position, such as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5, the valve member 118 is actuated, which causes the rod 106 to be returned toward its initial position within the cylinder 96. During such return movement, the roller tripper 148 again engages the cam arm 144, but since it is prevented from pivoting by engagement of the stop pin 150 with the pusher member 108, it exerts a force on the cam arm 144 sufficient to shift it from its dotted line position to the full line position illustrated in FIG. 5, placing the line 132 in communication with the high pressure air line 138 and the line 130 with the atmosphere, effecting a retraction of the piston rod 126 within the cylinder. As the roller tripper 148 moves off the cam arm as the rod 106 continues its retraction within the cylinder 96, the spring can again rock the arm 144 and the valve 136 in a counterclockwise direction, or to the dotted line position disclosed in FIG. 5, which again places the head end of the cylinder 128 in communication with the pressure line 138, causing the rod 126 to again slowly move out of the cylinder 128 towards the carriage 112.

Fluid under pressure, such as compressed air, for operating the various mechanisms described is derived from a suitable source (not shown), flowing through an inlet conduit 154, a filter 156, and a pressure regulator valve 158, into a manifold or header 160. The pressure air lines 85, 122 and 138 are connected to this manifold 160. Air pressure for the clutch releasing cylinder 188 also passes from the manifold 160 through a line 190, there being a suit-able manually controlled valve 192 in this line to determine the passage of compressed air to the cylinder 188.

A scriber or marker or other suitable type of indicator 162 is mounted on an arm secured to the carriage 113. As shown, the marker may be a pen engaging the surface of the chart or graph 63 disposed on the recorder drum 62. With the marker 162 on the carriage 113 held in a fixed position on the guideway 114, and with only the drum 62 rotating in the direction'indicated by the arrow 164 (FIG. 5), and in proportion to the depth of the bore hole being drilled, the marker 162 would draw a continuous straight line on the surface of the chart 63 in a direction opposite to the arrow 164. Accordingly, the depth of the well can be read at any time by observing the position of the end of the line drawn on the chart by the marker 162. When the marker 162 on the carriage 113 is moved along the rails 114 by the combined action of the push member 108 and the time positioned stop 120, 126, it is placed in a location indicative of the rate at which the drill bit is penetrating the formation. The direction in which the carriage 113 and marker 162 is moved by the push member 108 and the time positioning stop 120 is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the drum 62 and chart 63 thereon. Thus, the movement of the drum 62 and the location of the marker 162 on the chart give a recording of the rate of progress of the drill bit in the well bore in relation to the depth of the latter.

The push member 108 is actuated each time the shaft rotate through a predetermined angle. If this angle is selected so that it corresponds to the drilling of one foot of hole by the drill bit, then for each foot of hole drilled, the push member 108 will force the carriage 113 against the time positioned stop 120. The timing cylinder 128 and the pressure regulator 142 are so designed as to cause the piston rod 126 to advance from the cylinder across the entire width of the chart 63 in a uniform manner and in a predetermined time. As an example, ten minutes may be required for the push rod 126 to be advanced from an initial position of full retraction relative to the cylinder 128 to a fully advanced position from the cylinder 128. If the push member 108 is actuated again, after the drill bit has made another foot of hole, in an elapsed time of five minutes, the rate of penetration of the drill bit in the bottom of the hole has been one-fifth of a foot per minute. In the five minute time interval, the timing cylinder 128 would have moved the time positioned stop secured to the rod 126 to a position where the marker 162 is located mid-way across the chart. As a consequence, the chart would be calibrated so that its mid-point corresponds to a penetration rate of one-fifth of a foot per minute.

With the arrangement described, it is apparent that the chart 63 can be calibrated to read velocity or time in a direction transversely to the movement of the chart. The faster the drilling bit makes an additional one foot of hole, the shorter is the distance that the time positioned stop is moved by the piston 126 before the push member 108 is again actuated as a result of rotation of the shaft 30 to force the carriage 113 against the stop 120.

In the event the time positioned stop 120 reaches the carriage 113 before the push member 108 is actuated, the stop 120 will push the carriage 113 to the right, as seen in the drawings, until the push member 108 is actuated as the result of the drill bit having made an additional foot of hole. The movement of the carriage to the right by the time positioned stop 120 indicates that the rate of penetration of the drill bit has decreased in comparison to the rate at which a previous foot of hole was drilled.

Should the push member 108 be actuated and the time positioned stop 120 not as yet have been advanced into engagement with the carriage 113, the push member 108 will engage the carriage 113 and move it to the left until it engages the stop 120. This movement of the carriage 113 to the left is indicative of the fact that the rate of penetration of the drill bit has increased in comparison to the time required to drill the previous foot of hole.

In the event that the time positioned stop 120 and the push member 108 reach the opposite sides of the carriage 113 at the same time, the carriage will not be moved along the rails 114, and hence the marker 162 will draw a straight line on the chart in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow 164. In summary, lines drawn by the marker inclined to the right indicate a lower penetration rate; whereas, lines drawn by the marker that incline to the left indicate a faster penetration rate. The scriber or marker 162 draws a continuous graph on the chart 63, permitting rate of penetration to be read as a function of the depth for each increment, such as each foot, of the well being drilled.

In the embodiment shown, the recording tape or chart 63 may be paper and the scriber indicator 162 a pen. It is contemplated that the recording tape 63 could be a magnetic tape or film, or other recording devices, and the indicator could be a magnetic head or a light beam to provide a mark or indication on the recording tape. In this way, the rate of penetration log could be played back on an oscilloscope or an optical screen. Additionally, the log could be copied easily on another tape or film, or a copy thereof made on suitable paper.

As the drill bit 21 cuts the hole, the drill string 19 and its kelly 20 move progressively downwardly until the kelly has reached its lowermost point of operation with respect to the rotary table 22. When this occurs, additional dn'll pipe must be added to the drilling string, requiring elevation of the drill string and disconnection of the kelly therefrom. The additional length of drill pipe is then added and the kelly 20 reconnected to the latter, Whereupon the drilling string is again lowered until the lower portion of the kelly is disposed in the rotary table 22. The upward movement of the drilling string and kelly,

as well as its lowering movement, causes a reverse rotation of the recorder sheave 28 and then its forward rotation. It is desired to prevent such sheave rotation from being imparted to the recording drum 62, and, for that reason, the clutch member 170 is disconnected by opening the valve 192, permitting air under pressure to enter the cylinder 188, advancing the piston 186 from the cylinder and against the operating lever 180, causing the latter to disengage the driven clutch member 170 from the sheave 28 against the action of the spring 17 8. When the valve 192 is opened, it is desirable to close valve 140 to stop the supply of air to the timing cylinder 128 to prevent the recording of an erroneous penetration rate. After the drill string 19 has again been lowered to again engage the drill bit 21 with the bottom of the hole, the valve 192 is manipulated to discontinue the air pressure to the line 190 and allow the air pressure in the line to exhaust therefrom, a suitable spring (not shown) retracting the piston rod 186, allowing the clutch spring 178 to reengage the clutch, thereby recoupling the recorder sheave or pulley 28 with the shaft 30, which is connected through the reduction gearing with the recorder drum 62. Drilling can now proceed, and as the drill string 19 lowers, as a result of penetration of the bit 21 in the formation and the removal of the cuttings from the drilling region, the pulley 28 and the recording drum 62 are turned in accordance With the descent of the drill string and the depth of the hole.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for recording on a record receiving member the rate of penetration in a bore hole of a drill bit secured to a drill string, comprising first means adapted to receive the record receiving member and adapted to move in accordance with downward movement of the drill string to correspondingly move the record receiving member, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a movable carriage, a marker on said carriage engageable with the record receiving member, said piston being engageable with said carriage to move said carriage in a direction perpendicular to the direction the record receiving mem ber is being moved, means for controlling passage of fiuid pressure from a source of fluid pressure to said cylinder to determine the forward and retracting movement of said piston in said cylinder, said controlling means in eluding means for admitting fluid pressure to said cylinder after each descent of the drill string a predetermined amount to move said piston forwardly in said cylinder at a constant predetermined rate to position the marker on the record receiving member so that said marker marks said member at least each time the drill string descends a predetermined distance, said controlling means further including means connectible to the drill string and operable upon movement of the drill string by a predetermined amount for controlling passage of fluid pressure to said cylinder to retract said piston after the marker has been positioned whereby the position of the marks on the record receiving member relate the rate of penetration of the drill bit to the depth of the bore hole.

2. A rate of penetration recorder for a bore hole adapted to record on a record receiving member, comprising a support, a shaft rotatably mounted on said support and adapted for movement in proportion to the movement of a drill string and bit in drilling the bore hole, means connected to said shaft for moving the record receiving member in one direction and in proportion to rotation of said shaft and to the depth penetrated by the drill bit, a cylinder mounted on said support, a piston in said cylinder, a movable carriage, a marker on said carriage engageable with the record receiving member, said piston being engageable with said carriage to determine the position of said carriage and marker in directions perpendicular to the direction the record receiving member is moved by said shaft, means for controlling passage of compressed air from a source of pressurized air to said cylinder to determine the forward and retracting movement of said piston in said cylinder, said controlling means including a valve for admitting pressurized air to said cylinder after each rotation of said shaft through a predetermined angle to move said piston forwardly in said cylinder at a constant predetermined rate to position the carriage and said marker on the record receiving member at least each time the drill string and bit descend a predetermined amount, said controlling means further including actuating means operatively connected to and operated by said shaft upon each rotation of said shaft through said predetermined angle for controlling passage of pressurized air to said cylinder to retract said piston in said cylinder, whereby the marks made by the marker on the record receiving member relate the rate of drill peneration to the depth of the bore hole.

3. A rate of penetration recorder for a bore hole adapted to record on a recording chart comprising a support, a shaft rotatably mounted on said support and adapted for movement in proportion to the movement of a drill string and bit in drilling the bore hole, a recording drum adapted to carry the recording chart and rotatably mounted on said support, means connecting said shaft with said recording drum whereby the recording drum rotates in proportion to the depth penetrated by the drill bit, a cylinder mounted on said support, a piston in said cylinder, a marker, a carriage mounting said marker and movable by said piston parallel to the axis of the recording drum to mark the surface of the chart mounted thereon, means for controlling passage of compressed air from a source of pressurized air to said cylinder to determine the forward and retracting movement of said piston in said cylinder, said controlling means including a valve for admitting pressurized air to said cylinder after each rotation of said shaft through a predetermined angle to move said piston forwardly in said cylinder at a constant predetermined rate to position the carriage and said marker on the record receiving member at least each time the drill string and bit descend a predetermined amount, said controlling means further including actuating means operatively connected to and operated by said shaft upon each rotation of said shaft through said predetermined angle for controlling passage of pressurized air to said cylinder to retract said piston in said cylinder after the marker has been positioned by said piston, whereby the position of the marks on the recording chart relate the rate of drill penetration to the depth of the bore hole.

4. Apparatus for recording on a record receiving member the rate of penetration in a bore hole of a drill bit secured to a drill string, comprising first means adapted to receive the record receiving member and movable in accordance with downward movement of the drill string to correspondingly move the record receiving member, a guideway, a carriage movable on said guideway in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the record receiving member, a marker on said carriage engageable with the record receiving member, a time positioned stop engageable with said carriage, a push member for periodically pushing said carriage against said time positioned stop, second means operatively con nected to said first means and said push member for causing said push member to push said carriage against said time positioned stop each time the first means is moved a predetermined amount in accordance with downward movement of the drill string and bit, retracting means operatively connected to said push member and said time positioned stop for retracting said push member and said time positioned stop away from said carriage in response to engagement of said carriage by said push member and time positioned stop, and means actuated by said push member for moving said time positioned stop toward said carriage at a predetermined rate after said time positioned stop has been retracted and upon retraction of said push member whereby the position of the marker on the record receiving member when the push member is actuated reflects the speed of descent of the drill string and bit at a particular depth.

5. Apparatus for recording on a record receiving member the rate of penetration in a bore hole of a drill bit secured to a drill string, comprising a support, a shaft rotatably mounted on said support and adapted for rotation in proportion to the downward movement of the drill string and bit in drilling the bore hole, means connected to said shaft for moving the record receiving mem ber in proportion to the rotation of said shaft and the depth penetrated by the drill bit, a guideway mounted on said support, a carriage movable on said guideway in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the record receiving member, a marker on said carriage engageable with the record receiving member, a time positioned stop engageable with said carriage, a push member for periodically pushing said carriage against said time positioned stop, means responsive to rotation of said shaft for actuating said push member each time the shaft rotates through a predetermined angle in response to descent of the drill string and bit a predetermined distance, means for retracting said push member and said time positioned stop from said carriage in response to engagement of said carriage by said push member and time positioned stop, and means actuated by said push member for moving said time positioned stop toward said carriage at a predetermined rate after said time positioned stop has been retracted and upon retraction of said push member whereby the position of the marker on the record receiving member when the push member is actuated reflects the speed of descent of the drill string and bit at a particular depth.

6. Apparatus for recording on a record receiving member the rate of penetration in a bore hole of a drill bit secured to a drill string, comprising a support, a shaft rotatably mounted on said support and adapted for rotation in proportion to the downward movement of the drill string and bit in drilling the bore hole, means connected to said shaft for moving the record receiving member in proportion to the rotation of said shaft and the depth penetrated by the drill bit, a guideway mounted on said support, a carriage movable on said guideway in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the record receiving member, a marker on said carriage engageable with the record receiving member, a timing cylinder, time positioned piston means movable in said cylinder and engageable with said carriage, a push cylinder, push piston means in said push cylinder and adapted to engage and move said carriage along said guideway into engagement with said time positioned piston means, a valve connectible to a source of pressurized air and connected to said push cylinder, valve actuating means operated by said shaft for actuating said valve to admit pressurized air to said push cylinder each time said shaft rotates throgh a predetermined angle to advance said push piston means against said carriage and move said carriage along said guideway into engagement with said time positioned piston means, means operable by one of said piston means for retracting said push piston means and time positioned piston means from said carriage after said carriage has been positioned on the record receiving member by engagement with said time positioned piston means and said [push piston means, and means responsive to retraction of one of said piston means for admitting pressurized air to said timing cylinder for advancing said time positioned piston means toward said carriage at a constant predetermined rate after retraction of said time positioned piston means from said carriage.

7. Apparatus for recording on a record receiving member the rate of penetration in a bore hole of a drill bit secured to a drill string, comprising a support, a shaft rotatably mounted on said support and adapted for rotation in proportion to the downward movement of the drill string and bit in drilling the bore hole, means connecting to said shaft for moving the record receiving member in proportion to the rotation of said shaft and the depth penetrated by the drill bit, a guideway mounted on said support, a carriage movable on said guideway in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the record receiving member, a marker on said carriage engageable with the record receiving member, a time positoned stop device longitudinally movably mounted on said support for engagement with said carriage, a push device mounted on said support for longitudinal movement toward and from said carriage for periodically pushing said carriage against said time positioned stop, means responsive to movement of said shaft through a predetermined angle for actuating said push device longitudinally toward said carriage, fluid pressure responsive control means operable upon joint engagement of said push device and time positioned stop device with said carriage for retracting said push device and said time positioned stop device longitudinally from said carriage, and means responsive to retraction of one of said devices for advancing said time positioned stop device toward said carriage at a constant rate following its retraction, whereby said carriage provides indications on the record receiving member each time the push device is actuated indicative of the rate of penetration of the drill bit at particular depths.

8. A rate of penetration apparatus as defined in claim 7, including means for selectively disassociating or associating said shaft from or with said drill string, whereby motion of said drill string selectively does not or does effect corresponding motion of said shaft.

9. Apparatus for recording on a record receiving member the rate of penetration in a bore hole of a drill bit secured to a drill string, comprising a support, a shaft rotatably mounted on said support and adapted for rotation in proportion to the downward movement of the drill string and bit in drilling the bore hole, means connected to said shaft for moving the record receiving member in proportion to the rotation of said shaft and the depth penetrated by the drill bit, a guideway mounted on said support, a carriage movable on said guideway in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the record receiving member, a marker on said carriage engageable with the record receiving member, a timing cylinder, time positioned piston means movable in said cylinder and engageable with said carriage, a push cylinder, push piston means in said push cylinder and adapted to engage and move said carriage along said guideway into engagement with said time positioned piston means, first valve means connectible to a source of pressurized air and to said push cylinder, first valve actuating means responsive to predetermined movement of said shaft for actuating said first valve means to admit pressure air to said push cylinder to move said push piston means toward said carriage, second valve means connectible to a source of pressure air and to said timing cylinder, means operable upon engagement of both of said piston means with said carriage for retracting said push piston means from said carriage, second actuating means operable by said push piston means for actuating said second valve means and admit pressurized air to said timing cylinder to retract said time positioned piston means from said carriage, and means for admitting pressurized air to said timing cylinder for moving said time positioned piston means back toward said carriage at a constant rate, whereby indications on the record receiving member are obtained each time the push member and time positioned piston means jointly engage said carriage indicating the rate of penetration of the drill bit at a predetermined depth.

10. Apparatus for recording on a record receiving member the rate of penetration in a bore hole of a drill bit secured to a drill string, comprising a support, a shaft rotatably mounted on said support and rotatable in proportion to downward movement of the drill string and bit in the bore hole, means connected to said shaft for moving the record receiving member in one direction in proportion to the descent of the drill string in the well bore, a guideway mounted on said support, a carriage movable on said guideway transversely to the direction the record receiving member is movable, a marker mounted on said carriage and movable therewith for marking the record receiving member, a timing cylinder, piston rod timing means movable in said cylinder into and out of engagement with said carriage, a push cylinder, push piston rod means in said push cylinder engageable with said carriage to move said carriage along said guideway into engagement with said piston rod timing means, a first valve connectible to a source of pressurized air and connected to said push cylinder to selectively direct pressurized air to said push cylinder to advance said push piston rod means in said push cylinder and to retract said push piston rod means in said cylinder, means responsive to rotation of said shaft through a predetermined angle to actuate said first valve to advance said push piston rod means in said cylinder and into engagement with said carriage to move said carriage along said guideway into engagement with said piston rod timing means, means mounted on said carriage and engaged by said push piston rod means to actuate said first valve and cause compressed air to enter said push cylinder and retract said push piston rod means from said marker, 2. second valve connectible to a source of pressurized air and to said timing cylinder, and means connected to said second valve and operable by said push piston rod means during its retraction in said push cylinder to retract said piston rod timing means in said timing cylinder away from said marker, said second valve being positioned to admit pressurized air into said timing cylinder to advance said piston rod timing means back toward said carriage at a predetermined constant rate, whereby indications are provided by said marker on the record receiving member each time the push piston rod means engages said carriage and forces it against said piston rod timing means, which indicate the rate of penetration of the drill bit at a predetermined depth.

11. In apparatus for recording on a record receiving member the rate of penetration in a bore hole of a drill bit secured to a drill string: first means adapted to receive the record receiving member and adapted for movement in proportion to movement of the drill string and bit to correspondingly move the record receiving member; a movable carriage; a marker on said carriage engageable with the record receiving member; fluid actuated means engageable with said carriage for moving said carriage and marker with respect to said first means and record receiving member in direction transverse to the direction of a movement of said record receiving member; second means for admitting fluid under an automatically controlled constant pressure to said fluid actuatable means at a predetermined rate to effect movement of said fluid actuated means at a constant predetermined rate from an initial position and determine the position of said carriage and marker; third means operatively connected to said second means for controlling passage of fluid under pressure thereto; and means operatively connecting the drill string to said third means, whereby movement of the drill string by a predetermined amount actuates said third means to control passage of fluid through said third means to said fluid actuated means and effect return of said fluid actuated means to its initial position.

12. In apparatus for recording on a record receiving member the rate of penetration in a bore hole of a drill bit secured to a drill string: first means adapted to receive the record receiving member and adapted for movement in proportion to movement of the drill string and bit to correspondingly move the record receiving member; a movable carriage; a marker on said carriage engageable with the record receiving member; a timing cylinder; a timing piston reciprocable in said cylinder and engageable with said carriage for moving said carriage and marker with respect to said first means and record receiving member in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of said record receiving member; second means for admitting fluid under pressure to said cylinder at a predetermined rate to effect movement of said piston in said cylinder at a predetermined rate from an initial position and determine the position of said carriage and marker; third means operatively connected to said second means for controlling passage of fluid under pressure thereto; and means operatively connecting the drill string to said third means, whereby movement of the drill string by a predetermined amount actuates said third means to control passage of fluid through said second means to said cylinder and eflect return of said piston to its initial position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,600,336 6/1952 Scivally 73l5l.5

RICHARD C. QUEISSER, Primary Examiner.

JOHN P. BEAUCHAMP, Examiner. 

11. IN APPARATUS FOR RECORDING ON A RECORD RECEIVING MEMBER THE RATE OF PENETRATION IN A BORE HOLE OF A DRILL BIT SECURED TO A DRILL STRING: FIRST MEANS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE RECORD RECEIVING MEMBER AND ADAPTED FOR MOVEMENT IN PROPORTION TO MOVEMENT OF THE DRILL STRRING AND BIT TO CORRESPONDINGLY MOVE THE RECORD RECEIVING MEMBER; A MOVABLE CARRIAGE; A MARKER ON SAID CARRIAGE ENGAGEABLE WITH THE RECORD RECEIVING MEMBER; FLUID ACTUATED MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID CARRAIGE FOR MOVING SAID CARRIAGE AND MARKER WITH RESPECT TO SAID FIRST MEANS AND RECORD RECEIVING MEMBER IN DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO THE DIRECTION OF A MOVEMENT OF SAID REORD RECEIVING MEMBER; SECOND MEANS FOR ADMITTING FLUID UNDER AN AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED CONSTANT PRESSURE TO SAID FLUID ACTUATABLE MEANS AT A PREDETERMINED RATE TO EFFECT MOVEMENT OF SAID FLUID ACTUATED MEANS AT A CONSTANT PREDETERMINED RATE FROM AN INITIAL POSITION AND DETERMINE THE POSITION OF SAID CARRIAGE AND MARKER; THIRD MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND MEANS FOR CONTROLLING PASSAGE OF FLUID UNDER PRESSURE THERETO; AND MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING THE 